Universal access port

ABSTRACT

A universal access port includes a specific size opening that is formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface. The opening is preferably rectangular in shape, but other shapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port is covered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficiently inserted and removed from the universal access port. A perimeter of the insertable device is sized to be sealable inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable device preferably seals with an exterior and interior wall of the conditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixturing devices, windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged access doors, wire access devices, temperature modifying devices or air circulation devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to conditioningenclosures and more specifically to a universal access port forconditioning enclosures, which is structured to receive numerousinsertable devices.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] There are several conditioning enclosures on the market, whichdisclose an opening created in a side thereof. A conditioning enclosureis defined as an oven, freezer, incubator, burn-in chamber,environmental test chamber, shaker, or any other device that stresses,modifies, or conditions an item inserted therein. U.S. Pat. No.4,854,726 to Lesley et al. discloses a thermal stress screening system.An exposure chamber is connected to a cabinet with a pair of insulateddelivery hoses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,031 to Szasz et al. discloses anenvironmental stress screening apparatus for electronic products. Aproduct carrier pallet is inserted into an opening formed in anenvironmental test chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,136 to Hartley et al.discloses a temperature cycling test chambers. A portion of the wall isrotable between two different test chambers.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for auniversal access port formed in a side of a conditioning enclosure,which has a specific size and shape to receive windows, wire accessdevices, bulkhead connectors, manual manipulation devices, doors,junction boxes, shelves, racks, drawers, blowers, a slave test chamber,and other insertable devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a universal access port forconditioning enclosures, which receives standard sized insertabledevices, thus increasing the versatility of one or more conditioningenclosures. At least one universal access port allows a firstconditioning enclosure to have expanded capacity by connectingadditional conditioning enclosures to the first conditioning enclosureto retain the additional parts for testing. The additional conditioningenclosures would be connected with a junction device inserted into theuniversal access ports of each conditioning enclosure.

[0007] The additional conditioning enclosures are used as auxiliaryunits and their functionality need not be the same as the firstconditioning enclosure. For example, the capacity for performing sometype of temperature testing is increased without the cost of additionalconditioning enclosures having the same function as the firstconditioning enclosure. The universal access port also provides modularassembly of a group of conditioning units each having differentfunctions. The function of each different conditioning unit may beactivated when appropriate.

[0008] Each universal access port includes a specific size opening thatis formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at aspecific distance from a floor or mounting surface of the conditioningenclosure. The opening preferably has a rectangular shape, but othershapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port iscovered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficientlyinserted and removed from the universal access port, including thesealing panel. A perimeter of an insertable device is sized to besealably inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable devicepreferably seals with an exterior and an interior wall of theconditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixture devices,windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged accessdoors, wire access devices, hydraulic connection devices, temperaturemodifying devices, air circulation devices, gas insertion devices,blower devices, or any other appropriate insertable device.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideat least one universal access port in a conditioning enclosure, eachuniversal access port has a specific opening size located a specifieddistance from a floor or mounting surface of the conditioning enclosure.

[0010] Finally, it is another object of the present invention to providea plurality of insertable devices that are sized to be inserted into auniversal access port formed in a conditioning enclosure.

[0011] These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefitsof the present invention will become apparent from the followingspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conditioning enclosure with auniversal access port in accordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sealing panel for insertion intoa universal access port of a conditioning enclosure in accordance withthe present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a sealing panel attached to auniversal access port of a conditioning enclosure in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drawer device for insertion intoa universal access port of a conditioning enclosure in accordance withthe present invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wire access device for insertioninto a universal access port of a conditioning enclosure in accordancewith the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of a blower device forinsertion into a universal access port of a conditioning enclosure inaccordance with the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 6a is an exterior perspective view of a blower device forinsertion into a universal access port of a conditioning enclosure inaccordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a junction device for insertioninto universal access ports of two environmental test chambers inaccordance with the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a front view of a first conditioning enclosure connectedto a roll-up, walk-in conditioning chamber with a junction device inaccordance with the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a front view of three conditioning enclosures connectedtogether with two junction devices in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a damper device for insertioninto a universal access port of one conditioning enclosure and matingwith two dampers on another conditioning enclosure in accordance withthe present invention.

[0023]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conditioning enclosure with twodampers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1,there is shown a perspective view of a conditioning enclosure 100 with auniversal access port 10. With reference to FIG. 3, the universal accessport 10 preferably includes an opening 12 of a specific width “W” andheight “H” formed through a wall 102 of the conditioning enclosure 100.The universal access port 10 is disclosed as having a rectangular shape,but other shapes may also be used. Preferably, an interior peripheralflange 14 extends from an interior wall 102. The interior peripheralflange 14 surrounds the perimeter of the opening 12. A perimeter sealinggasket 16 is attached to the interior peripheral flange 14. Preferably,a perimeter sealing ridge 20 extends from a peripheral wall 18 of theopening 12. A bottom of the opening 12 is located at a height “H2” froma floor or mounting surface 104 of the conditioning enclosure 100.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 2, when not in use, the universal accessport 10 is covered with a sealing panel 22. The sealing panel 22preferably includes a mounting plate 24, an insulated insert 26, a panelperimeter sealing ridge 28, and a panel perimeter sealing gasket 30. Aplurality of mounting holes 32 are formed near the perimeter of themounting plate 24. A plurality of fasteners 34 are inserted through theplurality of mounting holes 32 to retain the sealing panel 22 in theuniversal access port 10. The insulated insert 26 extends form a back ofthe mounting plate 24. The insulated insert 26 preferably contains anequivalent amount of insulation 36 found in the walls 102 of theconditioning enclosure 100. The panel perimeter sealing ridge 28 isattached to a perimeter of the insulated insert 26. The panel perimetersealing ridge 28 seals against the perimeter sealing gasket 16 and theperimeter sealing ridge 20 seals against the panel perimeter sealinggasket 30. One method of sealing the sealing panel 22 (and otherinsertable devices) to the universal access port 10 is disclosed;however other methods of sealing may also be used.

[0026] FIGS. 4-7 disclose sealing panels which have been modified toform insertable devices. FIG. 4 discloses a drawer device 38. Aplurality of drawers 40 are slidably retained in the drawer device 38.The plurality of drawers 40 are capable of holding a plurality of smallparts for environmental testing. The plurality of parts are placed ineach drawer 40. A back of the drawer will be exposed to an insideatmosphere of an environmental chamber. The plurality of small parts areremoved after the environmental testing has been performed. The drawerdevice 38 includes all of the sealing and attachment features of thesealing panel 22.

[0027]FIG. 5 discloses a wire device 42. A plurality of through passages44 are formed through the wire device 42. Each through passage 44 issized to firmly receive a single sealing insert 46. Each sealing insert46 is preferably fabricated from foam, but other materials may also beused. Each sealing insert 46 is capable of sealing around wires or otherlines that need to be run through the wall 102 of the conditioningenclosure 100. A round through passage 44 is disclosed, but the throughpassage may also have other shapes. The wire device 42 includes all ofthe sealing and attachment features of the sealing panel 22.

[0028]FIGS. 6 and 6a disclose a blower device 48. The blower device 48includes an air blower 50, an input port 51, an output port 53, and aninput duct 55. The air blower 50 includes a motor 57 and an air impeller59. An input duct (not shown) is preferably connected between a sourceof conditioned air and the input port 51. An output duct (not shown) ispreferably connected between the source of conditioned air and theoutput port 53. The motor 57 turns a fan inside the air impeller 59 todraw air from the input port 51 through the input duct 55 to propelledconditioned air substantially perpendicular to the output port 53. Theblower device 48 includes all of the sealing and attachment features ofthe sealing panel 22.

[0029]FIG. 7 discloses a junction device 52. The junction port device 52includes a mounting plate 54, a first insulated insert 56, a secondinsulated insert 58, a first panel perimeter sealing ridge 60, a secondperimeter panel sealing ridge 62, a first panel perimeter sealing gasket64, and a second panel perimeter sealing ridge 66. The first insulatedinsert 56 extends from a first side of the mounting plate 54 and thesecond insulated insert 58 extends from a second side of the mountingplate 54. The first panel perimeter sealing ridge 60 is attached to aperimeter of the first insulated insert 56 and the second panelperimeter sealing ridge 62 is attached to a perimeter of the secondinsulated insert 58. The first panel perimeter sealing gasket 64 isattached to the first side of the mounting plate 54 and the second panelperimeter sealing gasket 66 is attached to the second side of themounting plate 54. A through passage 68 is formed through the firstinsulated insert 56, the mounting plate 54 and the second insulatedinsert 58.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 8, the junction device 52 is used toconnect a first conditioning enclosure 106 to a roll-up, walk-inconditioning enclosure 108. The first insulated insert 56 of thejunction device 52 is inserted into a universal access port of the firstconditioning enclosure 106 and a second insulated insert 58 of thejunction device 52 is inserted into a universal access port of theroll-up, walk-in conditioning enclosure 108. The conditioning enclosuresare pushed together to retain the junction device 52.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 9, three conditioning enclosures areconnected in series with two junction devices. The first conditioningenclosure 106 is connected to one side of a second conditioningenclosure 110 with a first junction device 105 and a third conditioningenclosure 112 is connected to the other side of the second conditioningenclosure 110 with a junction device 107. The second conditioningenclosure 110 includes at least two universal access ports.

[0032]FIG. 10 discloses a damper device 70. The damper device 70includes a first damper through passage 72, a second damper throughpassage 74, and a sealing gasket 76. A first passage opening 78 isformed through the sealing gasket 76 to provide access to the firstdamper through passage 72. A second passage opening 80 is formed throughthe sealing gasket 76 to provide access to the first damper throughpassage 74. The damper device 70 includes all of the sealing andattachment features of the sealing panel 22. With reference to FIG. 11,a conditioning enclosure 114 is disclosed with a first damper 116 and asecond damper 118 disposed on a side thereof. The damper device 70 isattached to the universal access port of a first conditioning enclosure(not shown). The conditioning enclosure 118 will be pushed against thesealing gasket 76, such that the first passage opening 78 is alignedwith the first damper 116 and the second passage opening 80 is alignedwith the second damper 118.

[0033] Several types of insertable devices are disclosed, but theinvention should include other types of insertable devices, whichalready exist or may be created in the future.

[0034] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method of increasing the versatility of a conditioningenclosure, comprising the steps of: forming at least one opening througha wall of said conditioning enclosure, each one of said at least oneopening having a specific shape and size; locating said at least oneopening a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface of saidconditioning enclosure; making said specific shape, specific size, andsaid specific distance a standard for a plurality of conditioningenclosures; and providing an insertable device that is sized to bereceived by each one of said at least one opening.
 2. The method ofincreasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 1,further comprising the step of: forming a sealing gasket on a perimeterof each one of said at least one opening at an interior end thereof,forming a sealing ridge on a perimeter of said opening at an exteriorend thereof.
 3. The method of increasing the versatility of aconditioning enclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of:providing said insertable device with a mounting plate and an insulatedinsert, extending said insulated insert from a back side of saidmounting plate, extending a sealing ridge from a peripheral edge of saidinsulated insert.
 4. The method of increasing the versatility of aconditioning enclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of:providing a sealing panel for said insertable device, said sealing panelhaving an insulated insert that is received by said opening, saidsealing panel being retained in said opening with fasteners.
 5. Themethod of increasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a drawer device forsaid insertable port device, said drawer device having a plurality ofdrawers.
 6. The method of increasing the versatility of a conditioningenclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a wireaccess device for said insertable device, said wire access device havinga plurality of through passages, each one of said plurality of throughpassages being sized to firmly receive a sealing insert.
 7. The methodof increasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 1,further comprising the step of: providing a blower device for saidinsertable device, said blower device including a motor driven airimpeller.
 8. The method of increasing the versatility of a conditioningenclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing ajunction device for said insertable port device, said junction deviceincluding a mounting plate, a first insulated insert extending from afront of said mounting plate and a second insulated insert extendingfrom a rear of said mounting plate, forming a through passage throughsaid mounting plate, said first insulated insert and said secondinsulated insert.
 9. The method of increasing the versatility of aconditioning enclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of:providing a damper device for said insertable device, said damper deviceincluding a sealing gasket, forming at least one damper opening beingthrough said damper device to mate with a conditioning enclosure havingsaid opening and a conditioning enclosure having at least one damperport.
 10. A method of increasing the versatility of a conditioningenclosure, comprising the steps of: forming an opening through a wall ofsaid conditioning enclosure, said opening having a specific shape andsize; locating said opening a specific dimension from a floor ormounting surface of said conditioning enclosure; making said specificshape, specific size, and said specific dimension of said opening astandard for a plurality of conditioning enclosures; providing aninsertable device that is sized to be received by said opening; andsealing said insertable device to said opening.
 11. The method ofincreasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10,further comprising the step of: forming a sealing gasket on a perimeterof said opening at an interior end thereof, forming a sealing ridge on aperimeter of said opening at an exterior end thereof.
 12. The method ofincreasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10,further comprising the step of: providing said insertable device with amounting plate and an insulated insert, extending said insulated insertfrom a back side of said mounting plate, extending a sealing ridge froma peripheral edge of said insulated insert.
 13. The method of increasingthe versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10, furthercomprising the step of: providing a sealing panel for said insertabledevice, said sealing panel having an insulated insert that is receivedby said opening, said sealing panel being retained in said opening withfasteners.
 14. The method of increasing the versatility of aconditioning enclosure of claim 10, further comprising the step of:providing a drawer device for said insertable device, said drawer devicehaving a plurality of drawers.
 15. The method of increasing theversatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10, further comprisingthe step of: providing a wire access device for said insertable device,said wire access device having a plurality of through passages, each oneof said plurality of through passages being sized to firmly receive asealing insert.
 16. The method of increasing the versatility of aconditioning enclosure of claim 10, further comprising the step of:providing a blower device for said insertable device, said blower deviceincluding a motor driven air impeller.
 17. The method of increasing theversatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10, further comprisingthe step of: providing a junction device for said insertable device,said junction device including a mounting plate, a first insulatedinsert extending from a front of said mounting plate and a secondinsulated insert extending from a rear of mounting plate, forming athrough passage through said mounting plate, said first insulated insertand said second insulated insert.
 18. The method of increasing theversatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 10, further comprisingthe step of: providing a damper device for said insertable device, saiddamper device including a sealing gasket, at least one damper openingbeing formed through said damper device to mate with a conditioningenclosure having said opening and a conditioning enclosure having atleast one damper port.
 19. A method of connecting at least twoconditioning enclosures, comprising the steps of: forming at least oneopening through a wall of each one of said at least two conditioningenclosures, each one of said at least one opening having a specificshape and size; locating said at least one opening a specific distancefrom a floor or mounting surface of said conditioning enclosure; makingsaid specific shape, specific size, and said specific distance astandard for a plurality of conditioning enclosures; and providing atleast one junction device, one end of a single said junction devicebeing inserted into one said opening of one said conditioning enclosureand the other end of said junction device being inserted into saidopening in another conditioning enclosure. enclosures of claim 19,further comprising the step of: forming a sealing gasket on a perimeterof each one of said at least one opening at an interior end thereof,forming a sealing ridge on a perimeter of said opening at an exteriorend thereof.
 21. The method of connecting at least two conditioningenclosures of claim 19, further comprising the step of: providing saidjunction device with a mounting plate, a first insulated insertextending from a front of said mounting plate and a second insulatedinsert extending from a rear of mounting plate, forming a throughpassage through said mounting plate, said first insulated insert andsaid second insulated insert.
 22. The method of connecting at least twoconditioning enclosures of claim 19, further comprising the step of:providing an insertable device that is sized to be received by each oneof said at least one opening.
 23. The method of connecting at least twoconditioning enclosures of claim 22, further comprising the step of:providing a sealing panel for said insertable device, said sealing panelhaving an insulated insert that is received by said opening, saidsealing panel being retained in said opening with fasteners.
 24. Themethod of connecting at least two conditioning enclosures of claim 22,further comprising the step of: providing a drawer device for saidinsertable device, said drawer device having a plurality of drawers. 25.The method of increasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a wire access devicefor said insertable device, said wire access device having a pluralityof through passages, each one of said plurality of through passagesbeing sized to firmly receive a sealing insert.
 26. The method ofincreasing the versatility of a conditioning enclosure of claim 1,further comprising the step of: providing a blower device for saidinsertable device, said blower device including a motor driven airimpeller.
 27. The method of increasing the versatility of a conditioningenclosure of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a damperdevice for said insertable device, said damper device including asealing gasket, forming at least one damper opening being through saiddamper device to mate with a conditioning enclosure having said openingand a conditioning enclosure having at least one damper port.